Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim

Valheim is a single player and co-op game. It has definite start and end. It's also an, at this point, unfinished game that likely will have another year of development before all content for the main game is done. This means the game will lack content under the duration of this time. If you get bored after 100, 200, 300, 400, etc hours - It's not due to bad game design or that the devs aren't working on the game. It's because you've played it enough for the time being, and maybe forever. You may have reached your fill of the game, and you have gotten full value out of your 17€.

If you're not content by playing an early access title and perhaps get bored before it's finished - the wise thing to do is to either not purchase early access titles at all, or buy it but restrain from playing it before it's finished. If you're the type of person who get upset when a game is developing in a way you don't like, it might be best to not get into early access and just buy the game if you believe you the finished product, or voice criticism in a constructive manner.

Valheim is a singleplayer/coop game. It doesn't need you to keep playing the game. The game will keep improving with new content and balance fixes and most new players who buys the game will have a good/great experience, just like most of us had. The game will not die but just fade away in the next 5, 10, 15 years like next to all games. It's already a success and have little reason to push a high continual player count. You're supposed to play the game and be done with it. Some will stay in the game longer than others, but it's not on the devs to keep each individual player in the game for hundreds of hours.

If you've gotten bored by the game at this point and have played it for several hundred of hours, regardless of mods installed or not, feel free to thank the IGS for the entertainment they provided, or apologise for the bile, if appropriate. You've bought a great early access title and have gotten your money's worth several times over.

I think I'm at around 350 hours and while not as thrilled to play as I once was, it's still pretty relaxing to hop in now and then, and with the new update, there's additional things to do and check out. The devs will continue to develop the game and fix things. It's objectively a pretty great game by a new and very small developer. I hope they continue to take their time and don't get stressed out by all the feedback.

What's the point of this thread? Since the forum is swamped by, most of the time, unreasonable criticism that people try to respond to over and over again, a bit of explanation and positive feedback doesn't hurt.

If you want to reply, criticise or give positive feedback - please allow us to know how many hours you've spent in the game while you're at it. It would be interesting to see.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Mharr replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 18, 2021 @ 1:13:05 am PDT

The update isn't so much a problem in itself, rather it's amplified and spotlighted problems that already existed with the stamina system but that we were burying in sausage and pies.

11:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by SanityBasket:
You have to remember how much literal toil takes place in games in this genre. Heck people will dog pile and insult folks who badmouth toil on the forums games like this. When a game in this genre works for a player, all the annoyance and frustration of the grind is transmuted into a positive by the pay off.

When games like these fail to work for a player, that person spent money to get annoyed and frustrated, and they can't even get a refund. All they can do is wait and hope it gets good enough to be given a second chance.

The sunk cost fallacy also embitters many a player.

I agree to the above, but it should be stated that this should be a known factor when buying a game with the description for Valheim. You always buy things at some risk. See a movie for a genre you usually enjoy - you may still be disappointed. If the movie is bad - feel free to criticise it. If it just wasn't for you - acknowledge this and don't spend time and effort harping over it being bad.

Valheim has grind built into it. It's part of the game. It may be balanced during the development, but grind will remain.

I'm very hesitant to get into these kind of games. I usually don't see the point doing menial tasks in a virtual environment. So, I didn't buy the hype. Valheim didn't appeal to me, but gaming drought and the possibility of co-op made me get it. I bought it knowing that it is a game with grind that normally doesn't appeal to me. It may be 17€ wasted and it won't be due to the game or the devs for me not enjoying the game. It might just be another game that isn't for me.

This shouldn't leave me annoyed, frustrated or embittered due to 'sunken cost'. It's just a game that wasn't for me. I'd walk away and see if I find enjoyment elsewhere. Or check back at the game later on, when the game and myself might be at a different place.

11:13 am, September 18, 2021

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SirKronos replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 18, 2021 @ 2:07:20 am PDT

I'm yet to arrive at 100hrs with this game, but really close. Played most of my previous 97 hours half with friends, half by myself, and I enjoy many aspects of the game. And right now, this update only made the game more challenging for me and my coop friend.

I can agree with some of the criticisms I've seen in the feedback megathread, but since I'm yet to get to Bonemass, I still have to experience how much will the new food changes affect me. However, it isn't nearly as bad as most players make it be, I feel that most of this backlash is due to confusion about what an Early Access game means, unwillingness to learn to adapt to changes, and even a good amount of entitlement in some cases.

I'm willing to give them the benefit of Early Access, and the only way the game can dissapoint me right now is if Iron Gate either abandon the game without a solid, understandable reason, or if they go the 7DTD way (which I feel might turn out to be a good game, but it's been way too long in development for me to care anymore)

11:13 am, September 18, 2021

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TwinChops replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 18, 2021 @ 2:28:44 am PDT

I do like the game yeah, but for a around 100million € game (that including steams 30%off even tough they're are a indie dev so it does not apply!) i somewhat except way faster develepment by now.

11:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Lucidess replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 17, 2021 @ 11:18:04 pm PDT

I'm not even sure what to say.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by Lucidess:
I'm not even sure what to say.

The message is rather wholesome, for this forum.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Vault Traveler replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 17, 2021 @ 11:32:09 pm PDT

I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

Sure more is better, but I bought Doom 2016 and had 80h with (thanks to) snap map for 60 bucks, and Doom Eternal only 25h for 90 bucks, in comparison.

Not every game must be the new WoW, Fortnite or whatever. Sometimes its good how it is and every step back is regretable but also each step forward is mentionable.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

Sure more is better, but I bought Doom 2016 and had 80h with (thanks to) snap map for 60 bucks, and Doom Eternal only 25h for 90 bucks, in comparison.

Not every game must be the new WoW, Fortnite or whatever. Sometimes its good how it is and every step back is regretable but also each step forward is mentionable.

I played rein of kings, and i thought that was great fun for its time.
Even tho it faild, it was in fact fun.

Some games launch and still change around alot.
one should just look at total war warhammer or Stellaris.
And people praise those oh so highly.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

Sure more is better, but I bought Doom 2016 and had 80h with (thanks to) snap map for 60 bucks, and Doom Eternal only 25h for 90 bucks, in comparison.

Not every game must be the new WoW, Fortnite or whatever. Sometimes its good how it is and every step back is regretable but also each step forward is mentionable.

So teh fact that the game was relatively cheap (and pretty good for an Early Access) means its shielded for criticism forever?

That's flawed logic.

Also your comparison with Doom Eternal is flawed, both games offer vastly different experiences and it is silly to just look at a game and divide its price by the number of hours you spend playing.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by LordOfTheBread:
Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

Sure more is better, but I bought Doom 2016 and had 80h with (thanks to) snap map for 60 bucks, and Doom Eternal only 25h for 90 bucks, in comparison.

Not every game must be the new WoW, Fortnite or whatever. Sometimes its good how it is and every step back is regretable but also each step forward is mentionable.

So teh fact that the game was relatively cheap (and pretty good for an Early Access) means its shielded for criticism forever?

That's flawed logic.

Also your comparison with Doom Eternal is flawed, both games offer vastly different experiences and it is silly to just look at a game and divide its price by the number of hours you spend playing.

Did I say that? Critism as much as you want.

I used Doom as example that not huge teams and impressive tech makes me happy, the game was a huge letdown, it has inferior gameplay loop and lots more crashes then doom 2016 and even valheim.

There is no flawed logic, I simply impressed my feelings about the situation, people expect stuff get disapointed and start looking for blood.

Most critism is linked with absymal behavior, they do not care for a good solution they simply want to hate against something, venting and other childish behavior.

Its always the lazy devs, always cashgrab, always evil intention.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by LordOfTheBread:
Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

Sure more is better, but I bought Doom 2016 and had 80h with (thanks to) snap map for 60 bucks, and Doom Eternal only 25h for 90 bucks, in comparison.

Not every game must be the new WoW, Fortnite or whatever. Sometimes its good how it is and every step back is regretable but also each step forward is mentionable.

So teh fact that the game was relatively cheap (and pretty good for an Early Access) means its shielded for criticism forever?

That's flawed logic.

Also your comparison with Doom Eternal is flawed, both games offer vastly different experiences and it is silly to just look at a game and divide its price by the number of hours you spend playing.

When that criticism is nonsensical, ignorant, unreasonable, filled with misinformation, and is just an avenue to allow people addicted to screaming and harassing developers to further sling their abuse around, then a game doesn't need a shield from that criticism, because it's not even criticism, it's gibberish.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

You have to remember how much literal toil takes place in games in this genre. Heck people will dog pile and insult folks who badmouth toil on the forums games like this. When a game in this genre works for a player, all the annoyance and frustration of the grind is transmuted into a positive by the pay off.

When games like these fail to work for a player, that person spent money to get annoyed and frustrated, and they can't even get a refund. All they can do is wait and hope it gets good enough to be given a second chance.

The sunk cost fallacy also embitters many a player.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by SanityBasket:
Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
I never understand how people can be mad about a game where they can get 100h and more good time out of 17 bucks.

You have to remember how much literal toil takes place in games in this genre. Heck people will dog pile and insult folks who badmouth toil on the forums games like this. When a game in this genre works for a player, all the annoyance and frustration of the grind is transmuted into a positive by the pay off.

When games like these fail to work for a player, that person spent money to get annoyed and frustrated, and they can't even get a refund. All they can do is wait and hope it gets good enough to be given a second chance.

The sunk cost fallacy also embitters many a player.

Wow, that's a good explanation. It's not only the money spent or the lost enjoyment, it's also the felt time loss, although they enjoyed it quite a bit while it lasted.

I think the best advice in this case is to get distance from the game for a while and do something else. Although nobody wants to hear that...

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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CreatorTheta replied to Type of game, content, early access, longevity and sustainability of Valheim September 18, 2021 @ 1:05:56 am PDT

People are acting as if this update doesn't have serious bloody problems. As if just pure oversaturation is the problem when most of the people complaining are people that reached end game and hopped off. (To avoid oversaturation to begin with)

No, this is just such a pitiful update, that's the truth here. It's not entitlement, or oversaturation, or absurd demands. 7 months for a few minor additions and even more borked stamina issues after the last few updates already negatively affected the game.
This isn't reasonable. People would of given them more time, if they were going to add something more substantial instead of pretending this was a massive update.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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Originally posted by Vault Traveler:
Originally posted by LordOfTheBread:

So teh fact that the game was relatively cheap (and pretty good for an Early Access) means its shielded for criticism forever?

That's flawed logic.

Also your comparison with Doom Eternal is flawed, both games offer vastly different experiences and it is silly to just look at a game and divide its price by the number of hours you spend playing.

Did I say that? Critism as much as you want.

I used Doom as example that not huge teams and impressive tech makes me happy, the game was a huge letdown, it has inferior gameplay loop and lots more crashes then doom 2016 and even valheim.

There is no flawed logic, I simply impressed my feelings about the situation, people expect stuff get disapointed and start looking for blood.

Most critism is linked with absymal behavior, they do not care for a good solution they simply want to hate against something, venting and other childish behavior.

Its always the lazy devs, always cashgrab, always evil intention.

I agree, and then those people make a thread bordering on been outright toxic, and it gets deleted, and they dont understand why. Its like they dont understand that attitude, and the way you express Yourself and wording have an impact, on the greater message.

8:13 am, September 18, 2021

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